Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Opposes PTI Ban Efforts

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly passed a resolution against the Pakistan government's attempt to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), citing a violation of Article 17 of the Constitution. This move contradicts the Supreme Court's affirmation of PTI's legitimacy, and has seen diminished support from coalition partner PPP.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday passed a resolution opposing efforts by the Pakistan government to ban the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). According to The International News, the resolution asserted that such a ban would violate Article 17 of the Constitution. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs, and Human Rights, Aftab Alam Khan Afridi, emphasized that PTI would take legal action if the ban was imposed.

The resolution highlighted that despite a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming PTI as a legitimate political entity, federal ministers continued to call for its ban, The International News reported. The resolution stated that any attempt to ban PTI would violate constitutional provisions.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's ruling coalition faced a significant setback when the Supreme Court ruled that the PTI was eligible for reserved seats for women and minorities. On July 17, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a key ally in the ruling coalition, distanced itself from other coalition members' statements supporting the PTI ban, describing them as individual opinions, Dawn reported.

PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bokhari clarified to Dawn that the party had not discussed banning PTI at any level, framing allegations by party members, such as Farhatullah Babar, as personal views. Babar critiqued the notion of banning the PTI in a post on X, describing it as a move that could exacerbate Pakistan's political crisis.

Leaders from several political parties, including PPP, Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, and Jamaat-i-Islami, joined PTI in criticizing the proposal on July 16. PTI's press conference called the ban attempt an attempt to thwart the party after it secured a two-thirds majority in parliament following the Supreme Court's decision. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)